I Took Halo to Bed—and Never Looked Back
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The grunt was waiting behind a huge metallic barrel. I was racing down a dark hallway, the kind you might find in an Alien movie, and was stranded on a massive spaceship. The pint-sized creature jumped right at me and started shooting. “Human!” it screamed as I blasted the critter to kingdom come. I was playing Halo Infinite on an ROG Xbox Ally, a handheld gaming device that’s fully sanctioned by Microsoft and Xbox. (It even has an Xbox logo on it.) Up close and personal, you can see the action more vividly and hear the gunfire rattling off the walls. The widescreen, high-res display is a major draw for a device that’s not super expensive. While the gameplay options can be complex, it’s an enthralling way to play Halo—and many other titles.
What It Is
Courtesy Image
The ROG Xbox Ally handheld console started shipping late last year and costs $600—there’s also a “pro” model called the ROG Xbox Ally X for $300 more. (ROG stands for Republic of Gamers and is a sub brand of Asus.) Both devices offer similar features and let you play games locally or through the cloud, but the more affordable Xbox Ally is all white, runs on a slightly slower processor (the AMD Ryzen Z2 A), and has less RAM (16GB instead of 24GB). I’m OK with the more affordable handheld console, especially since all of the games I tested ran just fine on the 7-inch high-resolution screen. Think of the handheld as a glorified Xbox controller because it feels remarkably familiar with the same grips, thumbsticks, and buttons. The device lasts for several hours on a charge, depending on which games you play.
ROG Xbox Ally Overall Impressions
I mentioned Halo Infinite because, on the ROG Xbox Ally, the game looked and played fantastic during my tests—bright and colorful, ultra-smooth gameplay, and surprisingly theatrical sound. I battled my way through a level where the ship started coming apart at the seams, and the alien creatures, laser weapons, and explosions seemed to emanate around the room. The handheld device weighs 1.48-pounds and fits comfortably in my football-player-sized hands. I never felt I was holding a brick with a screen for an hour or two, and loved how the action was taking place right in front of me. I was also impressed with how quickly you can login using a fingerprint reader on the power button or by typing a quick access code.
Key Features
Overall, the ROG Xbox Rally is just a great mobile console. If you own an Xbox already, the grips and thumbsticks feel “just right” and the 7-inch screen is bright and colorful.
With Mafia: The Old Country, the story felt more engrossing as I travelled far and wide, lounging on a comfy chair. I plugged in a gaming headset and felt even more cocooned. NBA 2K26 also felt more personal; I became Anthony Edwards (my favorite player), hitting impossible threes.
John Brandon
A key feature compared to the ROG Ally X released in 2024 is that this new model runs Xbox —almost like you are on a portable console. (With previous models, you had to activate full-screen mode in settings.) The ROG Xbox Ally runs Windows 11 even though it sports an Xbox logo. It means you can play locally installed games you own or with Game Pass, using Xbox Cloud Gaming (which streams Xbox games from a Microsoft server), or through Xbox Remote Play. You can also stream games through apps like GeForce Now or Steam Cloud.
All three methods produce different experiences, so it’s good to know what you’re getting yourself into. Locally installed games are easy—you can install the PC version of any game you own or through a subscription like Game Pass, Ubisoft Connect, and EA Play. The only issue is that the ROG Xbox Ally has 512GB of local storage, and some games use 50GB or more. I installed NBA 2K26 and found it used up over 100GB of the 512GB available.
Cloud gaming also works fine, but you need Game Pass Ultimate for the best quality and to access the latest games. The ROG Xbox Ally includes a three-month subscription to Game Pass Premium, which means older titles and HD quality. And, there’s another catch. Cloud gaming has some vagaries that involve where you purchased the game (Xbox store versus Steam) and if it’s supported. For example, I purchased Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam, so I had to use Steam Cloud instead of Xbox Cloud Gaming. It can be a tad confusing.
John Brandon
Xbox Remote Play is the third option. Basically, it means you are streaming the Xbox game from your Xbox console or a PC. It’s great to have options! I mostly installed local games like Mafia: The Old Country, Grand Theft Auto Online, Cyberpunk 2077, and many others—they all ran smoothly. Still, if you’re not super-technical, all of these gaming options can be a pain.
The ROG Xbox Ally is also a capable mobile computer. I checked my email and browsed the web, fired up the Tidal app to play music, messaged a colleague on Slack, and even held a Zoom call. No one had a clue that I then jumped back into the fray in Halo Infinite.
Pros
- Light enough for long handheld gaming sessions
- Up-close-and-personal gaming is a blast
- Awesome theatrical sound
Cons
- Cloud gaming has some limitations
- Somewhat cramped local storage
Final Verdict
John Brandon
I highly recommend the ROG Xbox Ally because it offers a visceral and exciting experience when the graphics and sound hit you right in the face. Console gaming is a bit more removed in the living room, and VR games make me feel queasy. Late at night, I’d grab the Xbox Ally for one more NBA 2K26 game playing as my beloved Timberwolves. I blasted those Halo grunts in between work projects as well. The device feels comfortable and light enough to play for an hour or two. It’s speedy, most games are in high-res, and I never had any glitches. If you can live with the storage space limitations, the price isn’t that bad, either. Just be aware of the cloud gaming and remote play limitations and plan to manage your local game installs.
Related: The Top 10 Video Games Releasing in February 2026
Why You Should Trust Me
I first started gaming years ago with some of the best first-person shooters and never looked back. Marathon, Doom, and Halo were all personal favorites but I’ve kept up on sports games and even indie titles like Braid and Limbo through the years. I have owned every major console and have reviewed hundreds of video games. I enjoy the cinematic and artistic experience the most, especially with groundbreaking games like Ico, one of my all-time favorites.